Located in Algonquin only 30 short miles west of downtown Chicago is where you will find the Fox River Trail. This medium level trail hugs the Fox River between Aurora and Algonquin. The trail travels along the routes of historic railroad lines and crosses six bridges along the way while it changes surfaces between concrete, asphalt and crushed stone on its way through charming towns such as Carpentersville, Elgin and West Dundee.

For 84 years, C. J. Smith Resort has provided everything needed to enjoy a day of fishing and boating on the beautiful Chain O' Lakes in northern Illinois. C. J. Smith Resort is a family owned and operated business since 1929. We believe in providing exceptional service and reasonable prices to our valued customers and guests.

A 32-acre park built in cooperation with Batavia Park District, the city of Batavia and the Batavia Riverwalk Committee. Park your bikes by the Depot Museum and stroll the boardwalks through the wildflower garden.

Zero-depth sand beach, two islands, youth water slide, drop slide and diving tower with two-and four-meter platforms. Kid tested and family approved. This beach features a sand bottom swimming area covering 60,000 sq. ft. that includes: slides, an island diving area, playground, sand volleyball courts, a large sandy area for building castles, picnic area and concessions. Open May 23 through August 16. Hours 12 - 6 pm (Hours extended to 7 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).

Fermi is the site of the world's most powerful particle accelerator, where particles circle the four-mile ring 57,000 times each second. Restored prairie grass areas, historic barns and a buffalo herd are also on display.

Dotted along the 179-mile byway, you’ll find an unprecedented series of interpretive murals. Each artistically embodies the cultural heritage of the community where it is located and the legacy of the historic highway. Needless to say, taking a road trip to all or a couple makes for a nostalgic adventure.

A well-maintained par 27-layout, with holes ranging between 100 and 210 yards. With the course length being 1,265 yards, Greenshire will test the best of golfer's short game and provides a course for all skill levels to enjoy. The ability to play a round in less than 1.5 hours offers experienced players an alternative to the driving range. Comprehensive instruction from PGA professionals, ladies leagues and exciting events are also offered. Located just north of Waukegan in Beach Park, this course offers everyone, from the novice golfer to even the most accomplished golfer, a real short-game challenge. Open seasonally.

This public golf facility, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is one of the most challenging courses in the Chicago area. This 18-hole, par 72 c golf course is nestled on 241 acres of beautiful forest, marsh and prairie. This is the first public course in the United States to achieve Audubon Signature Sanctuary certification. Banquet facilities are available to accommodate a wide range of group sizes from small private outings to a full-course tournament. Golfers can spot bluebirds while playing one of the hottest courses in the Chicago area. Driving Range also available.

A local favorite since 1928, White Pines is conveniently located minutes from O'Hare, and its two year-round 18-hole courses are situated on 240 beautiful acres. Banquet facilities are perfect for golf outings, weddings, business or social events, large and small.

Trampolines on steriods!! This giant warehouse is filled with commercial grade trampolines that are connected together. Play trampoline basketball, trampoline dodgeball and land in a huge foam pit. Kids of all ages love the fun and completely forget that they are getting exercise. Check out this exciting concept online for more pictures and videos.

This 8-mile singletrack in Carpentersville, IL. is perfect for beginners without giving up on the excitement. The terrain is varied with steep descents, plenty of jumps, twisty trails through the woods and long stretches through meadows.

Dawn until dusk, a 36 m. trail is the forefront of outdoor recreation passing through Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora. It winds along the banks of the Fox River through miles of prairie grass, overshadowing trees and blooming flowers.

The Busse Woods Trail system is located within Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a 3,700-acre property in the western suburbs of Chicago. There are 11.2 miles of paved trails for cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians. The main loop is nearly 8 miles, circling some lakes and meadows, while a couple of much shorter side loops will take you to the north and south end of the forest preserve. The Busse Woods Trail connects with the Schaumburg Bikeway on the west, and on the north, Busse Woods links to the Rolling Meadows Bikeway system. Some key features of the forest preserve include fishing, boat rentals and a small herd of captive resident elk. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset.

A unique park for children ages two to nine years. Pirates' ship, paddle boats, train ride, climbing wall, and many more creative attractions for children. Concession and picnic areas. Birthday parties and rentals. Open daily June through August. Admission fee for children. Adults are always free.

A historic tradition lives on at the Elmhurst Park District Conservatory and greenhouses, located in Wilder Park. The conservatory holds four main plant displays a year: a Easter and Calla Lilies in the spring, Chrysanthemums in the fall, Poinsettias in December and an Environmental show with various themes in the Winter. In addition youth education programs are offered with our in house Horticulturist.

DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - The Elmhurst Park District exists to provide opportunities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, particularly those opportunities that people cannot supply for themselves. With facilities like the Sugar Creek Golf Course, the Elmhurst Art Museum, a skate park, two swimming pools, several fitness & recreation centers, over twenty neighborhood parks, and miles of bike paths and trails, the Elmhurst Park District will satisfy the needs of any audience.

The Illinois Prairie Path was the first successful "rail-to-trail" conversion in the United States and inspired a national rail-to-trail movement in the United States in the mid-1960s. The trail is named for its rare segments of original, thousand year-old prairies. With 62 miles of biking, hiking, jogging, equestrian, and nature trails, this is an amazing natural resource that encompasses 4 towns: Elgin, Aurora, Batavia and Geneva and 3 counties. The surface is both asphalt and crushed stone.

Built on the shores of Lake Michigan by the United States Government in 1873 after several shipwrecks demonstrated its need, this was the lead lighthouse marking the approach to Chicago. In 1999, Grosse Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service; the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes to carry that status. The Garden Club on Evanston maintains wildflower and butterfly gardens on its property.

Built on the grounds of the Ladd Arboretum in 1974, the Evanston Ecology Center serves as the education nucleus of the arboretum. An area of natural beauty, the arboretum stretches along a three-quarter mile segment of McCormick Boulevard on a narrow, 23-acre strip of reclaimed land that follows the diagonal course of the North Shore Channel. The Evanston Ecology Center offers many programs throughout the year such as an Easter egg hunt, community plays, and musical performances. Many are free.

Wheel and Sprocket located in Evanston, IL is an excellent source for all cyclists, offering new bikes, accessories as well as local ride information. Visiting the Chicago area? Ship your bike to Wheel and Sprocket and their staff will professionally reassemble it. Need a bike to get around? There is a fleet of bikes to rent by the hour or by the day. Visit local points of interest by bike such as the Baha'i House of Worship or Chicago Botanical Garden, or take a cruise along Lake Michigan.

A Big Ten school and one of the leading universities in the U.S. Its Evanston campus is on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. Founded in 1851, this renowned educational institution is rich in stunning architecture. More than 150 historically significant and interesting sites on campus are featured in various walking tours, each taking approximately 30 minutes to complete. Highlights include the Arch, University Hall and the Arts Circle.

Little Beans is a family café and imaginative indoor playground for kids. Their café boasts a delicious assortment of coffee drinks and snacks where parents can enjoy the ambiance of our comfortable café with their tiny tots. At Little Beans, kids have the freedom to play, learn, imagine and create in their custom interactive indoor village and playground. They are truly a destination that is fun for the whole family.

Pineapple Dance offers dance and fitness classes to adults and teens in Zumba, Traditional Belly Dance, Hip Hop, West African and more. Movement to music has been a vehicle for celebration and connection in ethnic cultures across the globe and history. The studio is available for rent, rehearsals and or meetings. Special group classes with any of our instructors are available.

Ft. Sheridan's history is closely tied to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan was put in charge of settling the unrest after the fire. Members of the Commercial Club which represented Chicago businessmen petitioned to establish an artillery school and military installation north of Chicago for their safety. Ft. Sheridan is now a beautiful forest preserve with rolling terrain, bluffs and ravines full of rich history. Trails wind through the preserves for outdoor enthusiasts or tour groups may take a walking or motorcoach windshield tour of the preserve.

The perfect setting for business & pleasure. Holes & Knolls features two 18-hole miniature golf courses and a clubhouse in a 25-acre park setting. The course design incorporates cascading waterfalls & streams. The clubhouse is available for rent.

The Chicago Botanic Garden opened a little more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation science centers. Each year, nearly one million people visit the Garden's 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres of land on and around nine islands. Six miles of shoreline extend along 81 acres of water, including the Great Basin, North Lake, and Skokie River Corridor. The Garden also has a renowned Bonsai Collection.

The Chicago Botanic Garden Loop offers a moderate level of difficulty to those wanting to experience quiet beauty in far north Cook County. The 385-acre garden is home to 2.4 million plants and is one of the most visited gardens in the country. Hiking will take you 4.5 hours and with almost 7 miles of trails, mostly paved you will get to experience both the lagoons and the Botanic Garden.

A visit to Wagner Farm affords you the opportunity to take part in and experience first-hand the workings of a genuine American farm. Wagner Farm is an 18.6 acre farm preserved for the educational and recreational enjoyment for all. See how bread was made in a wood cook stove, hear the rooster making time with his crow or milk one of the farm’s many cows. Explore the world of agriculture and rural life as it existed in 1920-1950’s.

The prairie grove, covering 123 acres of ecologically diverse prairie land, is preserved and maintained as former home of the visionary horticulturist and educator Dr. John Kennicott, who brought his family from New Orleans to settle on his land in 1836. The Grove, located in Glenview, is a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It offers many opportunities for educational, environmental and historical enjoyment including two historic homes, the Kennicott House and the Redfield Estate; the Grove Interpretive Center, a Native American Village, a Log Cabin, a Schoolhouse, a Wetlands Greenhouse and numerous interpretive trails.

The annual Lake County Fair runs for five days beginning the last Wednesday in July. The Expo Building is available for rent for meetings, shows, weddings, and events year-round. Monthly events including Antique Shows, Swap Meet, Crafts Shows, Dog and Horse Shows, and much more. Visit the website for event schedule.

The annual Lake County Fair runs for five days beginning the last Wednesday in July. Our Expo Building is available for rent for meetings, shows, weddings, and events year-round. Monthly events including antique shows, swap meets, crafts shows, dog and horse shows, and much more. Visit our website for event schedule.

The golf course has 18-holes and it is a par-70 course. Brae Loch Banquets feature a bright space in a country setting overlooking the fairways at the Lake County Forest Preserves Brae Loch Golf Club. A fine balance of food, location and people are the three ingredients that an event at Brae Loch brings together for a truly memorable experience. The banquet facility comfortably seats up to 165. The menu includes appetizers, entrees, and desserts that are almost too beautiful to eat, but too wonderful to skip.

Rollins Savanna Trails in beautiful Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve is a outdoor enthusiasts dream; with 5.7-miles of easy to moderate terrain and a thriving habitat to explore. The landscape is dotted with ponds and marshes. Take a walk through lush prairie and thriving wetlands and see why the National Audubon Society named it one of America’s most important bird sites in 2005.

The Willow Glen Golf Club is home to a picturesque 18-hole layout that provides an enjoyable challenge for all skill levels. The new clubhouse is home to Buckley's Restaurant and Pub making Willow Glen one of the finest golf and dining experiences on the North Shore. Open to the public!